Thursday, December 8, 2011

Pearl Harbor, WWII, and a Lesson for Today

By The Heritage Foundation

On this day 70 years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed a joint session of Congress and requested a declaration of war against Japan following the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor the day before. Roosevelt's words carried forth across the nation via radio, and the consequences of the actions America would take would be felt around the world--and across history. The lessons America learned in those fateful days should be remembered even today.

Roosevelt noted that the day of Japan's attack would be "a date which will live in infamy," and he also pledged the following:
I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces -- with the unbounding determination of our people -- we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.

At 4:00 p.m. that afternoon, Roosevelt signed the declaration of war, and the rest is history. Through America's incredible sacrifice and determination, the United States and its allies won victory, though it came at an incredible cost.

Just as Roosevelt proclaimed that "hostilities exist" 70 years ago, those words are true today. The United States faces threats at home and abroad--as we were reminded on September 11 and with every man and woman in military who makes the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms. The hostilities we face today are different from those we may face tomorrow, and there is no telling what challenges may lie around the corner. For that reason, our military must stand ready, prepared, and adequately equipped and funded to meet all threats, foreign and domestic.

Unfortunately, the U.S. military's ability to effectively carry out its mission is in jeopardy. Today, there are those who would like America to return to an era of disengagement while also slashing military spending to dangerous levels. Under the Budget Control Act (BCA), the military budget will be cut by almost $1 trillion over the next 10 years. Those cuts come on top of successive rounds of deep cuts in defense dollars and capabilities that Congress and the Obama Administration have already implemented. In a new paper, Heritage’s Mackenzie Eaglen writes that those cuts will undermine U.S. power and influence around the world and reduce the ability of the military to meet future threats:
The military is a vital tool of U.S. foreign policy. Slashing defense spending without any reduction in U.S. foreign policy commitments around the world is not only dangerous, but also more costly in the long run than maintaining stable defense budgets. A review of roles and missions will not change U.S. foreign policy; only the President can do that. Starving the military as part of a deficit reduction plan may cost taxpayers more in the future if it makes the country less safe and increases the risk of another terrorist attack or the likelihood of U.S. forces being drawn into yet another overseas mission.

The only responsible way to fund defense is to identify the nation’s vital national interests, ask what is required to defend the nation and those interests, determine what military capabilities are required to do so, and then build a defense budget to match the foreign and defense policies of the United States.

Eaglen recommends that Congress tackle debt reduction responsibly with American security interests in mind. That means stopping the current rounds of defense cuts, budgeting responsibly for America’s foreign policy needs and objectives, and repealing the debt ceiling deal "trigger." Other actions she recommends include stabilizing the military’s modernization accounts, aggressively promoting foreign military sales and increasing cutting-edge defense exports to friends and allies, and forcing the Department of Defense to innovate even as budgets fall.

Some would have Americans believe that defense budget cuts required under the BCA would reduce only the rate of increase in the overall defense budget. While precise defense budget projections under the BCA are not possible, it is a certainty that the overall defense budget will decline under its terms. And those are reductions the military can ill afford. Since President Obama took office, more than 50 major weapons programs at a value of more than $300 billion were cut or delayed. On top of this, the Administration told the military to cut almost $600 billion more over the next 15 years. That was even before the BCA took effect.

This is no way to fund a military or to fulfill the Constitution's prescription that the primary role of the federal government is "to provide for the common defence." That duty is just as important now as it was 70 years ago when America faced one of its greatest challenges. Just as they did then, Congress and the President should ensure that the federal government carries out its responsibilities today and fully funds our military.

It seems that the American People have just about had it with the contrived leftist power technique of “Political Correctness.” Yes, power ...

There was an error in this gadget

Press Counter for More Information

Search This Blog

An Open Letter to the Real Democrats in America

We from the right extend our hand of friendship in a gesture of unification for the survival of our country. It is our observation that the ideals and dreams of most Democrats have been hijacked by the far left.It is our feeling that the far left are not Democrats but disenfranchised revolutionary radicals who have a master plan of global social justice and wealth redistribution through the dismantling of this nation.We from the right know that you love this country as much as we do and are in pain as you watch the creation of great divides by the far left interest groups and a former President. This is not a battle of the right vs. the left or Republican vs. Democrat.

It is one of anti-American radical revolutionaries against the freedom and liberty for which our Constitutional Republic stands.Words that divide help no one but the radical left who are already mobilized and angry at the Western world, namely the United States. You are not that sort of citizen.You want your country protected and run in a proper manner without corruption and confusion by a government that operates within the confines of our Constitution, not one that seeks to rip it to shreds. You, too, want a government that understands that its role is to secure liberty, not seize it; and one that helps the people who need our help and not the ones that take advantage of our good faith.We know that independently from the current politicians in office we can restructure the priorities of our nation without discord by jointly voicing our displeasure over the way our government has been run for the past several years and which now seeks to fundamentally transform this great country into something we will soon no longer recognize.It is now up to us, the citizenry of the United States of America, Republican, Independent and Democrat to boldly stand up and protest the way this government has been hijacked. The bonds we share as Americans are stronger than the issues that divide us. We implore you to put aside your party loyalty and stand up now before our country is run financially and spiritually into the ground. We hope you take the time to pass this on to your families and friends so we can get our country back on track for the betterment of all.

Thank you,

Your Fellow Americans from the Right.
Authored by Nicholas Contompasis

Now the EagleNicholas Contompasis author of "Now the Eagle" the very popular thriller about the Obama Presidency. This free online novel will keep you on the edge of your seat as the world wobbles on the brink of disaster.
http://nowtheeagle.blogspot.com/?spref=tw

Muskets and CannonsThe battles defending the fundamentals that have made this country great, are as I write, being fought on smart phones, laptop computers, Facebook and twitter. These are things and words that our forefathers would have scratched their heads at, nonetheless just as important as “Muskets and Cannons". The true America will be heard and will prevail. God bless this land, America.
Authored by Nicholas Contompasis

The Tail That Wags the DogThe left should remember, that with the Obama administrations continual alienation of the independent voter, they the left, are becoming more and more of a minority.
America will not allow the tail to wag the dog.
Authored by Nicholas Contompasis

Respect for LifeGodless people make godless governments and godless governments have no respect for life.
Authored by Nicholas Contompasis

The Great American DeceptionThe greatest trick socialists in America ever did was to convince the American people they didn't exist!
Authored by Nicholas Contompasis

Econ 101You Can't Ride in on Capitalism and Expect to Ride Out Alive on Socialism.Giddyap
Authored by Nicholas Contompasis

Our ChildrenMr. President did you actually think we would let you steal the future of our children and let you get away with it? Giddyap
Authored by Nicholas Contompasis

May I SuggestTo the Future Members of the 112 Congress of the United States - We the People Want Nothing Short of Hearings, Charges, Trials and Convictions. If You Fail at This Simple Task We Will Throw You Out Too. You Clowns and Buffoons Have Insulted the American People Long Enough. We Mean Business. Giddyap
Authored by Nicholas Contompasis

The Last ConservativeThe dark days collapsed into weeks and weeks into years as the great nation declined into a unsettled sleep.
The once great empire that touched every nation was now in decline but not by choice, more by design. A design that was created from the dark side of men's souls. Men that had no love of God and country. Men as dangerous as any in history.
As the great nation faltered from self strangulation. Its clouded eyes gazed upon a distant image through the hazy morn.
The once proud people, now enslaved, with eyes in permanent sorrow felt a change this hazy morn.
The haze, as it slowly burned above the rolling hills began to reveal the approaching force.
This force was once the lifeblood of the mighty empire but was lost in years of turmoil.
Confusion and lies ruled these days leaving the people wanting and searching but never finding until this hazy morn.
For on this morn, the sun now shining for the first time in years, burning off the deadly fog, revealing the image of good and evil on the battlefield of right and wrong. Bringing clarity to the eyes of the people of this great land.
As this clarity spread, the evil was destroyed and the now proud nation empire was once again leading the world with its love of God and country, for all nations.
Authored by, Nicholas Contompasis

The Next President of the United States General David Petraeus Ph.DAs the ancient warrior from the dusty pages of a long forgotten empire steps out into present days light his mission is one. This mission is as old as the history books from which he emerges.His goal is to right the wrong. His mission is to save his people for whom he has fought for in far off lands, spending years in foreign soil and feeling the blood of many enemies.His love for his land is full and true. A love that is felt to the core of his being. This love of empire is the common thread that links the people of the empire to him.As the years pile up in his endeavor to save the empire from the menaces from afar, the storm clouds grow over his homeland.The threat now is more from within than from afar and the Eagle is watching and waiting. The corrupt leader and senator's of the ancient forum have now pushed the people to the brink of existence.But, the Eagle is waiting. As this ancient general of the loyal armies dusts off his shield and sharpens his sword and spear he sets his eyes on his homeland.With a tear in his eye and the wind under his feet he will return to right the wrong, to free the enslaved, to stop the oppression and to ultimately heal the scars of his homeland.For the Eagle is coming to save his land, to save his people. He is coming to save his America.And when his mission is met he than can rest back into the ancient page's of history till it's time once again to emerge for the people. Authored by
Nicholas Contompasis